Posted on 07/29/2010 3:23:36 PM PDT by Excuse_My_Bellicosity
WASHINGTON — A US military cargo plane crashed during a training mission at the Elmendorf base in Alaska, killing all four crew members aboard, an Air Force spokesman said Thursday.
The plane, a C-17 cargo aircraft, reportedly crashed into a wooded area about two miles away from the runway from which it took off.
A statement from the Elmendorf base in Anchorage said four crewmembers assigned to the base's 3rd Wing were on board at the time of the crash at 6:14 pm local time (0215 GMT).
"Yesterday, we lost four members of our Arctic Warrior family and it's a loss felt across our entire joint installation," said Colonel John McMullen, 3rd Wing commander.
"Right now our immediate focus is on providing all possible support to the loved ones of our fallen aviators. We are also engaged in a deliberate investigative process," he said.
The identities of the four were withheld pending notification of next of kin. Three were from the Alaska air national guard and the fourth was on active duty.
The crash comes ahead of the base's popular Arctic Thunder air show and open house, set for this weekend. Planes have been preparing for the show, but it was not initially clear if the C-17 was part of the performance, or whether the event would go ahead after the accident.
(Excerpt) Read more at google.com ...
This is the first Class A mishap where the a/c and crew were lost.
We will go to the airshow and enjoy what we can. I will be wearing a black armband as well.
Thanks for reading my post.
USAF put out the AIB findings today - late.
No suprise, Pilot error = flew into a stall. No airspeed or altitude to recover. Once the wing stalled, they were toast.
NO names released so don’t know if the pilot as AANG or active duty.
END thread updates
Thanks for update.
Thank you.
Glad to close the book.
I do not and will not post the link but The Force in thier collective non-wisdom release a clip that showes the last bit of the flight, cutting off just as the A/C is obsucred by the treeline. Disgusting.
As bad as the news buzzards wanting the film of the Thunderbirds in the mass crash at Indian Springs years ago.
Oddly, some A1C screwed up and erased the last min of that tape set. I’m sure he was punished by the brass hats and never bought a beer at the Club after that.
HAven’t seen ANYthing from the AKRR - and the C-17 landed on the main line that is just off the end of the E/W runway. I must say that is impressive - but then the AKRR is run by a retired 2 button.
Merry Christmas to you and the gang if I fon’t send something between then and ...
See my post #24 - you are welcome.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.